LVSFN 43

LVSFN

Posted by Ali, Released on July 24, 2025

Chapter 43

Knock knock—

I flinched in surprise at the sudden knock on the door and instinctively pulled away from him.

The door burst open, and a flood of people with flustered faces came rushing in.

Seriously, could the timing be any worse?

I almost shouted at all of them to get out.

Couldn’t they have come just five minutes later? Just five!

“Oh, heavens. Ribel!”

At the front of the group was my mother, followed by my father and older brother… and behind them came Bestie, Eclat, even the butler.

My mother, who looked like she had already cried a bucket of tears, walked toward me supported by my father.

“My poor Ribel, oh my goodness. How could this happen…”

“Mother.”

She grabbed my hand and began sobbing.

But Mother, I’m the one who really wants to cry right now.

After gently comforting her, I looked toward where Zerlach was standing.

His cheeks were unusually flushed. When our eyes met, he gave a faint, subtle smile.

Maybe… he was thinking the same thing I was.

“Our Ribel’s face is so gaunt. Oh, dear heavens…”

“I’m fine. Really, it’s nothing.”

It’s just that my heart feels a bit bitter right now.

“‘Nothing,’ she says! Dear, look at Ribel’s wrist!”

“This is unbelievable…”

My father’s face turned bright red as he saw my wrist, covered in bruises.

“To think someone did this to my daughter, to her lovely wrist…”

“Father.”

Unable to hold back his emotions, he covered his mouth with his hand. While he turned away to wipe his tears, Eclat stepped closer.

Her face looked as if she’d lost a whole country.

“My lady, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.”

“Eclat, what are you saying?”

“I should’ve taken better care of you. I shouldn’t have gone to the festival and left you alone while you were sick. I’m so sorry, my lady.”

Then she dropped to her knees and began to wail.

Wow… what is even happening right now?

The only thing you all should be sorry for is coming in way too early.

That’s all.

“Eclat, don’t say that. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who went out instead of staying home. Why should you be apologizing? I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

“My lady…”

“I’m sorry for making everyone worry. But I’m really okay now. So please don’t cry anymore.”

After repeating “I’m okay” about a hundred times—perhaps because I’d only just woken up, or maybe because I was finally starting to relax—fatigue began to set in.

When I rubbed my eyes a couple of times, Zerlach seemed to notice and cleared his throat.

“Ribel should get some rest now.”

At his words, my father nodded and gently grasped my mother’s shoulder.

“Yes, he’s right. That’s best.”

“Ribel, should I stay here with you?”

My mother held my hand tightly and asked. I tried to respond, but my father quietly murmured, putting a little pressure on her shoulder.

“No, dear. If we leave, Ribel can rest more comfortably.”

“Really? Ribel, would it be better if I left?”

“That’s enough, that’s enough. Let’s go now.”

“Ribel, I’ll be close by. If you need anything, just call for me, alright?”

Once my mother stepped back, the doctor standing at the very back finally stepped forward.

“I was worried, but I’m glad you regained consciousness, my lady.”

He examined my wrist and applied ointment to a small wound on my fingertip.

“But please, don’t move for the next few days and get complete rest.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Now… who’s the lady’s maid?”

When the doctor asked, Eclat quickly raised her hand.

“That would be me.”

“I’ll prepare some medicine to help her recover her strength. Make sure she takes it twice a day. And start her on soft foods.”

“Yes, understood.”

As Eclat nodded, Zerlach suddenly interjected.

“Leave the medicine here. Ribel will be staying here until she’s fully recovered.”

“Ah…”

At that moment, my eyes met Eclat’s. She scrunched her nose and pretended to giggle. I tightly pressed my lips together and turned away.

“Well then, let’s give Ribel some time to rest.”

After the tearful and chaotic reunion finally ended, I was alone again.

Zerlach tried to stay by my side, but he was being called to a dozen different places. The festival was still in full swing, after all.

He kept turning away his aides, who showed up every three minutes.

If I hadn’t stepped in and sent him off myself, the poor aide would’ve had to knock on the door at least a hundred times.

Now alone again, I quietly fell into thought.

“I escaped that hellish situation… but now what?”

The real problem was what came next.

What would happen if thirteen days passed just like this?

I carefully sat up.

If only I could go back to the beginning… I feel like I could do things right this time.

As I tried to calm my growing anxiety, someone gently knocked on the door.

“Yes?”

A woman in a cloak entered as the door opened.

‘Who…?’

I watched her closely as she walked toward me, puzzled.

“My lady.”

The woman smiled gently, then pulled back her hood to reveal her face.

It was Elome Burster, Eclat’s friend.

Elome was a maid of the Shurane Viscount’s household and somewhat of a gossip queen in this story.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say every bit of society news came out of her mouth. She was a clever girl who seemed to know everything.

But I had no connection to the Shurane Viscount family. I knew there was a girl my age in their household, but we’d only seen each other in passing.

If anything connected us, it would be that Elome and Eclat were very close friends.

That’s why her visit felt unexpected—and unnatural.

“I was so shocked to hear you were kidnapped. Are you feeling better now?”

“I’m fine. Thanks for your concern.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

She smiled warmly.

I appreciated her kindness, but honestly, it felt a bit awkward.

‘Did she come to see Eclat?’

The silence between us stretched awkwardly. Unable to bear it, I spoke first.

“Eclat was just here earlier but had to step out.”

“Thank you, but actually, I came today to see you, my lady.”

“Me?”

“There’s something I really need to tell you.”

Elome’s expression grew unusually serious.

I blinked, wondering what she wanted to say. Then, with her hands clasped, she began to speak demurely.

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“…?”

Sorry for what?

She held her lips tightly shut, as if debating whether to continue.

“I’m truly sorry.”

Then she pulled her hood back over her head.

“Elome, what’s going on?”

“……”

“There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

Since she was close to Eclat, I wondered if something had happened between them. But if that were the case, wouldn’t it be something to sort out with Eclat?

She didn’t seem like she was joking.

She was deadly serious—and even looked a little sad.

“Elome, what’s going on?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

“What?”

“But my lady, no fate is unchangeable.”

Okay… what kind of cryptic talk is this now?

She apologized and now she’s talking about fate?

“If that’s how you truly feel, you’ll be able to overcome it and find a way.”

“Elome, I really have no idea what you’re talking about. Or maybe I’m too sick to understand anything right now?”

I looked at her with a bewildered expression, but she only shook her head slowly.

“Either way, it won’t be all bad.”